Bald eagle Jackie is seen laying a second egg as captured by the Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam in January 2024
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Screenshot of footage captured by Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Next Cam
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Topline:
Hundreds of thousands of viewers from around the world have tuned into the livestream of Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow as they attempt to expand their family in the last several months. But they're not the only subjects of around-the-clock cams.
Why now: It's becoming all but impossible that the three eggs Jackie laid earlier this year will hatch into eaglets, which means that the eagle couple might decide to abandon their nest and return later this year. And yet, people remain glued to their livecam. Eventually, though, the pair will move on until next season, which means viewers will need other options.
Read on... to learn more about the other wildlife livestreams you might enjoy.
Big Bear's first couple and world famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow have captivated the world as they have attempted to expand their family over the last several months. Though the chances for one of their three eggs hatching now seem all but nil, thousands of devoted viewers are still glued to the livestream to witness the cycle of life.
And the season is not yet over, at least for the time being, since the couple is still hanging out at the nest — though they are spending less and less time there.
"There's no defined nesting season," said Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley that operates the livestream. "It's different every year. It's based on when Jackie and Shadow decide to come in, which is based somewhat on the weather, on what's happening in the environment."
As to when they'll leave, same deal. "They choose, nature chooses. There's no set time frame," Steers said.
Even when the nest is empty, the organization's livestream is always on, 24/7, waiting for the eagles to return in the fall.
But Jackie and Shadow aren't the only animal celebs out there. We've selected these five other wildlife cams for your viewing pleasure.
The interweb continues to marvel. We searched high and low for information on the El Cajon Barn Owls cam, but admittedly have come up short.
Its mysterious provenance notwithstanding, we do know this: These non-migratory birds are common in San Diego County, according to the San Diego Natural History Museum. And since barn owls don't build nests, they have been known to take up backyard nest boxes in the area to lay eggs.
Here we have a live underwater cam at Anacapa Island, one of the five islands in Channel Islands National Park. In addition to views of the surreal and breathtaking kelp forests — one third of SoCal's kelp forests are found in that area, according to the National Park Service — you could also catch sight of the nearly one thousand marine species that call this place home, including the largest gathering of blue whales in the world.
Pro tip: Enjoy the ASMR sounds of the undulating underwater world, it's surprisingly soothing.
The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in California's Central Coast is one of the largest breeding colony for Northern elephant seals. Roadtrippers on Highway 1 can pull over for an up-close look at the giant marine mammals, estimated to number up to 25,000 in recent years, that congregate along the nearly 8-mile coastline.
Two livestreams have been set up by the nonprofit Friends of the Elephant Seals for those who want to keep tabs on these magnificent animals that are considered a conservation miracle in SoCal. The first known pup was born on the beach in the early 1990s, when just about two dozens adults were found in the area.
Fun fact: These seals typically head back to the place where they were born to mate.
Angelenos are no stranger to sightings of the small but mighty hummingbirds, but as we all know, these creatures are as quick as they are elusive.
In comes the Live Hummingbird Feeder stream, operated by a Studio City resident since 2020, who has been feeding these birds from her home for more than a decade, according to her YouTube page. She is also on a declared quest to photograph the more than 350 hummingbird species on the planet.
Finally, we come full circle — to another pair of bald eagles named Liberty and Guardian in Redding. Of the three eggs she laid in February, two have hatched. Check out the eaglets and their parents on the livestream.
